Dr. Okwudil : Educational policies should be reviewed

The Honourable member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Dr. Okwudili Ezenwankwo (Ewepudike na Nanka) has called for the review of the nation’s educational policies to reflect the current trends and to meet the challenges facing Nigeria and the world at large.

Hon.  Dr. Okwudil   Ezenwakwo advocated that the education system and curricula should be reviewed to emphasise entrepreneurial orientation in all sectors of the economy to eliminate gross unemployment, youth restiveness, political violence, corruption, poverty and culture of mediocrity in the society.

He bemoaned the inability of the education system to produce the needed manpower for the nation’s technological development. He stated that In order to revitalize and reposition the Nigerian educational sector, emphasis should be placed on sound technical and vocational educational programmes at all levels as the nation needs competent manpower to design and install improved equipment and technically skilled personnel who can help in the production of quality products.

According to him, Highly industrialised nations have at one time or the other identified technical and vocational education as a transformational and key index policy thrust for technological
growth, economic performance and general development.

Technical and vocational education facilitated rapid development in most countries of the world as no nation can achieve development and advance technologically without trained individuals with relevant
skills, knowledge, attitudes and abilities required to build efficient workforce in all sectors of the economy.

The Anambra born legislator opined that education consolidates the forces of national unity and a purposeful national awareness for economic sustainability and an instrument that yields dividends which transcend mere economic returns, elevates the quality of life of the recipients; bequeaths individual dignity and self-respect which are the hallmarks of individual freedom.

He reiterated that the various challenges in the educational sector must be tackled headlong if the country must make any headway in economic advancement and sustainable development process as Nigeria would cease to be a consumer nation and a dumping ground for secondhand goods like cars, computers, clothing materials and equipment rejected by their producers; and therefore, compete favourably in the production and export of products demanded in the developed world.Therefore, Nigeria as a developing nation must strive to meet with the fast pace of technological advancement and the challenges of globalization.

Timothy Nwachukwu